Dumb Duels #2: Whip Duel October 17, 2016
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
Beach has neglected for some time the honourable pursuit of dumb duelling: duels where either the weapon or the motive or preferably both were absurd. Here is one from 1853 from France. It is reported in a contemporary English newspaper so it may even, say it quietly, be true. Enter the whip duel
A singular duel took place last week, the Bois Boulogne. Two private coachmen, who had for some time past felt a deep-rooted animosity towards each other, and never met without quarrelling, happening by chance to meet, a few evening since, at wine-shop, one of them said to the other, ‘Our quarrelling has now lasted too long, it is time to put an end to it. Let us have one fight, and let that be the last. We neither of us understand anything of sword or pistol ; let us fight with our whips.’ This proposition having been accepted, the parties repaired to the Bois, and, accompanied by their seconds, soon commenced the combat. A number of persons assembled to witness the scene, which continued with great animation, when the keepers of the wood came up and marched off the combatants to the guard house. One of the men had received very serious wound on the face, and the other had one of his ears almost cut off.
‘one of his ears almost cut off…’ Cripes: a whip duel is no joke. Other dumb duels: drbeachcombing At yahoo DOT com
Beach also takes this opportunity to remind readers of past duel posts including the poison duel series, wild west duels and stupid motives…
Bruce T, 17 Dec 2016, My father’s family were teamsters for generations, providing cartage and mail service for a large region from the late 1700’s up until early in my Grandfathers life in the 1920’s. The men who drove the teams would often settle grudges using whips and jack knives. A whip won’t quite slice you up as portrayed in the movies, and a jack knife with a three inch blade is rarely going to kill. These fights were intended to mark and maim, much like the dueling at German universities in the same period. Satisfaction was had and death was rare from these fights. They were over when one fellow had enough or bystanders decided it was time to to intervene. It was supposed to be fair fight and what was and wasn’t allowed was stated before it commenced. I don’t know if they would be considered duels, though? I don’t know if these, like formal duels would be called when blood was drawn. I doubt it. Unless an eye was taken out, blood likely meant “game on!”
